installing springs

i am going to install my g&b springs tomorrow, and am wondering if anyone has any advice or warnings. i have a spring compressor and a ball joint separator. thanks

Most important thing I learned.... when doing the front, jack up the whole front of the car so that both wheels are off the ground!!!


I seriously went through soooo much trouble by doing it one at a time. The sway bar twists the whole suspension if you do it one at a time and it will be almost impossible to put everything back together.


Other than that, you should be fine. ;)


All you need is a jack (dont even think of using the jack you got with your car to jack up the whole front!!!!), some jack stands are recommended, a spring compressor, some wrenches, a flat head to remove the brake line clip (moving it makes access to the lower front bolts easier), and some muscle!

make sure you double check the spring is on the spring compressor correctly :eek: dont want to see a spring flying in anyones face :D

use a second jack to raise the lower arms. its like a helping hand when putting the strut back into the car. hehehe. :D

it's really easy... no super tight bolts or anything (unless they're rusted already on yours..)

thanks for the tips! i'm off to home depot to buy a couple of sockets and then it's muscle time. i'll post some pics when it is done.

if you slid a 2-3 foot pipe over the socket handle, then you won't require any muscle to undo any of the bolts, I had very tight bolt, no rust just bloody tight :mad: with the handle of the sockets not being too long I could hardly move the bolts, slid a pipe over the handle and the same bolt easily opened....:)

just my 0.02cts

ah... the "pipe". I have one too! ;)

ok, got the front right spring off, and compared it to the new spring. the new one is a tiny bit taller than the factory one. i thought they would be shorter. i just checked the b&g website, and i have the right springs, but i thought it was kinda strange. oh well...

yeah, you guys were right. this is easy - i might even dare to say that i am enjoying it more than getting that damn amber crap out of the corner and tail lights!!!

Originally posted by Seneb
yeah, you guys were right. this is easy - i might even dare to say that i am enjoying it more than getting that damn amber crap out of the corner and tail lights!!!

Hell, scooping dog shit up off of the lawn is more enjoyable than getting the amber crap out of the corner lights.

Originally posted by ragt20
if you slid a 2-3 foot pipe over the socket handle, then you won't require any muscle to undo any of the bolts, I had very tight bolt, no rust just bloody tight :mad: with the handle of the sockets not being too long I could hardly move the bolts, slid a pipe over the handle and the same bolt easily opened....:)

just my 0.02cts

its all about physics :p

Originally posted by frogg
Hell, scooping dog shit up off of the lawn is more enjoyable than getting the amber crap out of the corner lights.
ROFLMFAO!! You got that right Froggy....:frog:

hey let us see some picts when you're done! :D the aftermarket ones might be longer but could be because its progressive rate. i could be wrong...

ok, here it is!!! i finished yesterday, but didn't get a chance to post until now. oh, and i love the handling. lots-o-fun. :D

http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/433640abby-side-rf2.jpg

yeah, one other thing that has been bothering me. was i supposed to cut the bump-stop? please tell me no. i don't want to do a re-install.

hey good job! :D naw, don't cut the bumpstops on just lowering springs as you might bottom out. you gonna get shocks later?

enjoy the ride! :p

i probably won't get shocks. maybe just use these until i need new shocks and then spring for some full coil-overs. time will tell...

Originally posted by Seneb
yeah, one other thing that has been bothering me. was i supposed to cut the bump-stop? please tell me no. i don't want to do a re-install.

actually you are supposed to cut the bump stops, like 1 or 2 rings, make sure its not more than 1 inch of it though, that way you get more suspension travel and therefore less bottoming out.